Facturing co



Oct. 16, i923.

H. L. BACHMAN STEAM 4HEATIIGr SYSTEM Filed Feb. 2. 1921 J5 J6 2Q 2414- Patented Oct. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,470,796 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY L. BACHIYIAN. F COLUMBUS, OHEO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WEINMAN PUMP MANU- FACTURING CO., OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

STEAIrI-H'EATING SYSTEM.

Application filed February 2, 1921.

To all ywhom z'tmoy concern:

Be it known that HARRY L. BACI-DIAN, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Columbus,'in thc county oi" Franklin and State ot' Ohio, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Heating Systems, ot' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to improvements in steam heating systems and has for its primary object, to provide a heating system wherein an improved structure is present tor the purpose ot effectingr the removal of all air and water ot condensation from an associated steam heating system and to return the water of condensation back to the boiler and the air to the atmosphere by automatically maintaining a` vacuum on the system.

Another object ot the invention resides in the provision of mechanism otl the above character wherein is located a centrifugal pump, or an equivalent pumpingl member, having;` a dual discharge, with which are connected --independent pipes, one ot' said pipes leading to an injector which normally opN erates to create a vacuum in the heating systern and to draw the water ot' condensation and air into the reservoir ot the apparatus,

. 80 and to provide an .independent boiler return pipe in conjunction with the other discharge outlet oit the pump, which piping leads to an associated boiler and is provided in its length with an" automatically operable valve. the latter being controlled by the level o the liquid within the reservoir, in order that when a certain amount oi water accumulates within said reservoir by the action ot' the apparatus, said valve will be opened to permit ot the Jforcing' ot' the water or liquid trom the reservoir to the boiler and thence back into the heating system proper. this operation continuinguntil the water level in the reservoir recedes to a desired level. whereupon the valve is closed to again permit ot' the normal operation ot the system.

A further `object ot' the invention resides in the provision ot an improved valve construction in the boiler return pipe, said ronstruction beingy of the balanced variety and includes. telescopic members havingports formed therein, relative movement of said members being effected through the instrumentality oit a float construction situatedwithin the reservoir and operative upon the Serial No. 441,779.v

rise and fall of the liquid level in said reservoir to effect relative movement between said members so as to bring the ports thereot into or out of registration7 whereby the passage of fluid through the valve construction as a whole may be automatically and readily governed.

iWith these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention accordingly consists in thefnovel features of construction, combinations ol elements and arrangements of parts, hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part ot this specification, and in which similar characters of reference denote like and corresponding` parts throughout the several views thereof:

Figure 1 is a. perspective view disclosing the improved apparatus embodied 'in the heating' system,

Figure Q is a horizontal sectional view taken through the valve construction provided in the boiler return pipe line., and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken alongthe line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the details of the invention, the numeral 1 designates the improved vacuum producingr unit or apparatus comprising` the present invention. This apparatus is designed to be employed in connection with a steam heating system in whatever capacity the latter may he placed, and by its use said apparatus will serve to withdraw air and water ot condensation from the pipes and appliances provided in the system 2, in order that the tree circulation ot` steam through the system may be provided and impediments in the path ot said circulation removed. To this end, the apparatus comprises a. base 3 upon which is mounted a hollow pedestal l, the latter lueing' disposed to support a horizontally situated tank or reservoir 5. The upper surface ot' the base is provided with a pad 6. upon which is suitably mounted the hase of centrifugal pump or its equivalent Y, the said pump including; the usual rotor 8 whose vanes are so disposed that the same will normally tend to torce the -luid in enrcap-feinent therewith toward the outer circumferential part of the pump. In this instance the pump is driven by means of an electric motor l0, which is mounted upon the base 3 and has its armature shalt united by means oiE 4a `coupling 11 with the driving' shalt for the pump l', wherein;rv wheii said motor is excited the operationro the pump will be positively eifected. This in\.'ention does not aim to cover broadly the use oi an electrically d riven centriugal pump in a system oi? this character, such a combination has been disclosed in the patentto Young' 1,287,169, December 10, 1918, and upon which structure the present invention is believed to constitute an in'iprovenient, As previously stated, the pedi tal i ot hollow Jformation and conn'nunicates with the interior of the, reservoir 5, the low end of said pedestal being;r in iommunication with a conduit provided in the l rse .i'hich conduit leads directly to the intake oit the pump 7. By this construction a conduit will be provided between the reservoir and the pump 7, which will supply the latter n i liquid directly from said reservoir and will serve to eliminatel the evils ot expans' f=5 contraction commonly 'found in the oilY forms of piping by avoiding; misa' of pump or motor sha'fting.

As shown, the easingjof the pump formed to comprise a pair of spaced Y charge outlets 12 and 13, from which liqis ejected lrom the pump. rl

lhe outlet connected with one end ot an injector line 14, the opposite end of said pipe line being terminated within an injecl'oi a. The injector 15 is of standard c-onstri on and 1 consists of a casing 16 which has its lower vided in the upper port-ion oi` the rc 'ervoir 5, and further, the interior of the easingr 16 is provided with a downwardly directed nozzle 18fwhiclh operates to d' "et a .fluid stream delivered 'from the pump 7 `with considerable velocity into the interior 'the pump 7 completingl the normal. cycle ot cir eulation oit' the reservoir liquid.

The casing' 1G is provided at a termediate oi" its length with branch 19, which is situated iuuncd above the discharge end of the noaa This branch is connected with one end o the return piping 20 oif the steam heating` system wherein f' when liquid is being cibly discharged troni thenoazlc'l@y vacuum will be produced substantiallyv in the sy.- tem 2, which will serve to 'torce the water ot condensation and air through the piping 20 and thence into the reservoir 5, the wa ter ot condensation heir confined w said reservoir while the air is permit separate and pass off from the si way of the vent 21. provided in the part of the reservoir 5. By this construction it will he manifest that when the Vinjector 15 is in Aactive operation a vacuum will be maintained on the heating system., which will effect the removal Vof undesired point in a iai a erV i te y l i Vfluids or condensate from said system and to thereby permit ot the free circulation or the heating medium, which in this instance is steam. Preferably, the piping` 20 is equipped with an autoinatically operable check valve which serves to maintain the vacuum in the system when the injector 15 is not in active operation,

ln order to maintain the liquid within the reservoir 5 within desired limits and to return excess liquid to an associated boiler, the discharge outlet 13 connected with one end oit a boiler return line 23. This line is provided intermediately of its length with a valve structure 24- which is opened or closed in accordance with the liquid level within said reservoir, the arrangement ot parts being' such that when the reservoir is filled to a predetermined level with water or condensation derived `trom the system 2, the said valve structure 2l will be opened, thus permitting,r water from the reservoir 5 to be pumped through he line 22S baci( to the boiler of the steam heating s cm and to enable this water to again be lined in the st un heating.; system. lllhen a sullicient volume olf the water has been pumped back into the boiler, the structure 21 is automatically closed, thus causing the water in the tank or reservoir to be forced through the injector 15 for vacuum creating purposes.

ln the specic iorin ot' the present invention under discussion., the valve structure 2i consists of a chamber which is provided in one oit the removable end plates 2G formingl a part ot the reservoir 5, said chamber constituting a ypart or continuation of the ret-urn line 23. Located within the chamber 25 is a stationary sleeve 27 in which is provided an elongated opening or port 28, the latter being in communication with the discha rpe outlet 29 ol said chamber. h'ornially arranged to close the port and consequentthe outlet is a Vtubular valve me nhcr 30, whichis rotatably received within the stationary sleeve 27, The member 3() in this instance is provided with a closure plate 31 which is mounted within a'slot 32 provided in the wall ot said member. and a spring 33 situated to engage with the plate 31 so as to Ytorce the latter into engagementwith the inner wall of the sleeve 27 so as to cover the port 28 formed therein. To operate the valve member the latter ,is connected with the inner-end oil a float stem 34e, which projects into the reservoir 5 and :has its outer end connected with an air tight float 85, the arrangement ybeing such` that the rise and tall of the water within the reservoir will rotate the valve member .IBO so thatthe plate will be brought into or outof registration with the port 2S in the sleeve 27. It will be observed that the slot 32 in which the plate 31 is mounted is extended so as to provide a discharge port 36 in said valve member. This port 36 is in communication with the hollow interior otl the valve member 3() and consequently in open communication with the chamber 25 and the inlet end of the boiler return line 23. However, it will be manifest that when the Water rises Within the reservoir, the valve member 30 will be rotated by the float and stem construction so that the port 36 thereof will rcgisterwith the port 2S, and thereby permitting of the flow ot liquid through the valve structure and into the discharge end of the boiler return line 23. lVhen a suitable quantity oiE liquid has been discharged from the reservoir by Way of the line 23 into the associated boiler, the valve structure will then automatically operate to close the line 23, causing the active operation of the injector l5 which had been previously rendered more or less ineffective by the circulation of Water through the line 23V.

From the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparentfthat the present invention provides an apparatus which will automatically and effectively operate VWithout inconvenience or complication to maintain the conduits of a steam heating systemy free from the presence ot superfluous and circulation obstructingr air and accumulated moisture or condensate. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for starting or stopping the mot-or lO, however, in practice it has been i'ound desirable to automatically control the operation of this motor by providing a switch which is operated by the vacuum Within the system 2, the arrangement being such that when the vacuum falls to a predetermined number oi inches, the motor will be automatically started to operate the pump T and conversely when the vacuum reaches its maximum point, the switch structure will automatically serve to arrest operation on the part of the motor. By the inclusion of this structure the apparatus is rendered entirely automatic in operation, hence its cost of up-kcep is maintained at a minimum.

From the. foregoing description it is believe-d that the operation, construction and advantages of the invention will be readily understood by those versed in the art, and therefore a more extended explanation has been accordingly omitted.

What is claimed is:

l. In a heating system, a vacuum producing unit comprising a base, a. reservoir, a hollow pedestal mounted upon said base and operative to support said reservoir, said pedestal being` in communication with the interior oi' said reservoir, a motor driven pump positioned upon said base, a conduit between the reservoir and pump, the inlet of said pump being in communication With said conduit, a return pipe leading from the discharge ot' said pump back to said reservoir, an injector in said pipe, a return pipe from a. steam heating system in communication with said pipe at a point above said injector, a boiler return pipe in communication with said pump, and a valve structure automatically operative in accordance with the liquid level Within said reservoirfor controlling the flow of the liquid through said boiler return pipe.

2. In a heating system, a vacuum producing unit comprising a base, a horizontally disposed reservoir supported from said base, a motor driven pump, a conduit between said reservoir and said pump, a pair of discharge outlet connections carried by said pump, a reservoir return pipe leading from one ot' said discharge conduits, an injector `tormed by the upper portion of said reservoir and communicating with the discharge end ot said pipe, a steam pipe from a steam heating system having a return pipe disposed in communication with said reservoir, said return pipe entering said injector at a position above the nozzle thereof, a check valve in the return pipe of said heating system, a. boiler return pipe communicating With the other of the discharge connections of said pump, and a valve structure located in said boiler return pipe and operative in accordance With the liquid level Within said reservoir to control the passage of liquid therethrough.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HARRY L. BACHLNIAN. 

